Welcome to post Numero Uno of 'An American Girl in Cochabamba'! This is the post I'll be revising and updating as I go along in my final few weeks in the States before I hop on a plane for Bolivia. I want to let everyone know what I have been up to, and what I have had on my plate as far as preparation for the trip. For anyone who is thinking about up-and-moving to another country, I'll be adding some tips and tricks so you can weigh your options before takeoff.
I want to thank you all for taking the time to check out the blog and for reading what I have to say. I can't wait for this adventure to be underway so I can share all of the excitement (and obstacles!) I'll be experiencing while living abroad.
Stay tuned!
-- -- --
So, before you go to Bolivia (or any other country you're not familiar with), be sure to know what is required of you prior to entry. For U.S. citizens entering Bolivia, you'll need a handful of things:
- A roundtrip flight itinerary: when you apply for your visa, the consulate will NOT let your application go through without documented departure and return dates. It might be in your best interest to try STA travel if you are under the age of 26, as you will get cheaper flights. However, these flights generally have more layovers and/or layovers in bordering countries (as opposed to U.S. cities), so keep that in mind if you're not well-versed in foreign travel.
- STA Travel is a great place to start looking for flights, and they give great deals to teenage and young adult travelers. You DO NOT need to be a student to take advantage of STA Travel.
- A yellow fever shot: you will also NEED one of these prior to applying for your visa. I would suggest calling around to local travel clinics and hospitals to see which place is going to give you the best price. You may also look into certain other shots and medications, depending on your immunization history, how comfortable you feel going abroad without certain precautions and how comfortable you feel about using a clinic abroad.
- A Hepatitis A vaccination protects against water-borne diseases in countries with poor public water quality. It is also wise to avoid drinking any water that is not bottled if you are traveling through a country with poor water quality.
- A Typhoid vaccinations will also protect you water-born illnesses. See above.
- A Tetanus vaccination will protect you against, well...tetanus. Most young adults will have had a tetanus shot within the last 10 years. If you have, you're set. If not, it is your choice whether to get an immunization before you depart.
- Malaria Pills will need to be taken in certain countries and certain area of other countries. Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that becomes very serious in locations that sit below 8,000 feet. Do your own research and talk to your doctor if you need to get malaria pills, as the price and frequency changes between certain brands; some pills also give people terrible side effects and would need to be "tested" before departure.
- These vaccinations and medications CAN get VERY expensive. No matter where you go (clinic, hospital, GP), you will likely be charged a visitation/consultation fee on top of the fee for the actual vaccinations and/or pills. Keep that in mind and plan ahead so you know what YOU want prior to your visit. The only immunization required of you to enter Bolivia (and other "developing" countries) is Yellow Fever.
- International SOS is a good option to look into if you would like to wait and get secondary care in-country. They do not have a clinic in Bolivia, but they do in Brazil; they have other clinics in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
- Your visa: as a U.S. citizen you MUST have a visa of some kind in order to enter Bolivia. There are three different kinds of visas, so figure out which one you need:
- A Tourist Visa is only for the purpose of personal travel. If you are planning on doing any official business, work or volunteering with a registered program, a tourist visa will not work for you.
- Cost: $135
- Maximum Stay: 90 Days
- A Specific Purpose Visa is intended for most other business in Bolivia. It will get you into the country for 30 days, during which time you apply for a work visa (if necessary) with an appropriate extension period.
- Cost: $85
- Maximum Stay*: 30 days (*without an extension)
- An Official Visa is intended for government officials and representatives. This will likely not be the visa you'll need if you are any sort of "average joe" traveler. However, if you happen to work for the UN and plan on conduction super-secret official business in Bolivia, this is the visa for you!
- Find your closest consulate for whichever country you are traveling to. Depending on the country, you may or may not actually be able to reach the consulate via phone. If you live nearby, stop in in person and get the details. MAKE SURE you get the information you came for and that it is correct; don't let anyone brush you off if you need a question answered.
- If you would prefer to apply for your visa through a service program, there are a few options for that. You can try visahq.com for more information about which visa is right for you, and see their fees and the consulate fees that pertain to each visa. There is a drop-down menu on the right side of the page so you can easily see whether or not you will require a visa prior to your travel abroad.
- Side Note: if you have citizenship in a country other than the U.S., you may be able to use that to ease your entry into certain foreign countries. The U.K., for example, does not require any visa from its citizens to travel to Bolivia. If you hold a U.K. passport, you needn't deal with the hassle of visa applications and costs.
- Other: you may need passport photos and/or a letter of invitation to obtain certain visas - be sure to check if your program/business/host, etc. can provide you with any documentation you may need. Other things to consider include:
- Updating your credit card information: if you plan on using your card outside of your native country, you will need to alert your company to your travel plans. This will help avoid your card being put on hold for fraud protection purposes.
- Contacts/glasses: if you wear lenses of any kind, bring an extra pair with you. If you lose a contact or break you glasses abroad, you'll be hard-pressed to find somewhere with your prescription abroad.
- Medications: bring all medications in carry-on when you fly in their ORIGINAL packaging and with your prescription. Nobody likes a full-body search from the TSA at airport security; save yourself the time and (likely) embarrassment.
- These medications may also be difficult to find abroad, so bring more than you may think you need. See above.
Am I missing anything? Let me know!
Links:
http://www.visahq.com/
http://www.internationalsos.com/en/index.htm
http://www.statravel.com/?gclid=COvatPedmrQCFQsGnQodjxYAcA
